US foreign policy needs to acknowledge the shift from unipolarity to multi-polarity and accept the limits of its power.
There is a need for more modest goals in US foreign policy and a focus on American interests, rather than trying to control everything.
Deep dives
The Flaw in US Foreign Policy
The flaw in US foreign policy is the failure to acknowledge the shifting era of global politics, moving from unipolarity to multi-polarity. The US needs to accept the limits of its power and the rising capabilities of other states. Politics and political economy should be taken into account, not just military power. There is a need for more modest goals and a focus on American interests.
Failures of US Foreign Policy
The failures of US foreign policy in the post-Cold War era include the embedding of China's rise, excessive control-seeking, and a fundamentally transformative approach. The US needs to recognize the limitations of trying to control everything and adopt more pragmatic goals.
The Importance of Restraint
Restraint in foreign policy, which focuses on prudence, avoiding unnecessary conflicts, and accepting the limits of power, has faced challenges in gaining traction in policy debates. The resistance to restraint is rooted in cultural factors and the belief that America is capable of anything. However, recent events, such as the financial crisis and the failures of the war on terror, have made restraint more appealing.
The Debate on Restraint in the Ukraine Context
While the Biden administration has taken a relatively restrained approach in the war in Ukraine, there is a backlash against negotiation and restraint. The conflict between restraint and a transformative approach is evident, with tensions between the practical need to avoid escalation and support Ukraine and the idealistic desire to fully support Ukraine's just cause. A plausible path to a diplomatic outcome must be considered, even if it may take time to materialize.
As the global balance of power shifts, and in the wake of crises such as the United States’ messy withdrawal from Afghanistan and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it is an important time to consider the way U.S. foreign policy is made. What are the priorities shaping Washington’s agenda? Can the United States truly restore its leadership on the global stage? And how should the West respond as Russia escalates the war in Ukraine?
Emma Ashford is a keen observer of the foreign policy debate in Washington. A senior fellow at the Stimson Center, she consistently offers some of the most trenchant and thoughtful criticism of U.S. strategy and the forces shaping it. She has warned about the dangers of groupthink in Washington—and has made the case for accepting the limits of what U.S. power can achieve.
We discuss American foreign policy failures, the Biden administration’s handling of the war in Ukraine, and what great-power competition will look like in the years to come.
